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News Release
Sarah Ball Leaves UMBC Volleyball Program
8/13/2009
BALTIMORE—UMBC volleyball head coach Ian Blanchard announced today that senior Sarah Ball has left the team to accept a full-time teaching position at Seton Keough High School, a private Catholic school in Baltimore. Ball will be teaching French to girls in grades 9-12 and will work in the admissions office. “Sarah has been a great spokesperson and leader for this program,” Blanchard said. “I greatly appreciate everything she gave to her teammates and to me.” Ball came to UMBC in 2005 and won a then-record seven Rookie of the Week awards and was named America East Rookie of the Year. She accumulated 373 kills, 264 digs and 37 service aces in her freshman campaign. Ball followed up an outstanding rookie year with a 330-kill and 397-dig performance as a sophomore, leading the Retrievers to the America East Conference Championships before falling in five sets to Albany in the title match. “I had the time of my life playing volleyball at UMBC my first two years,” Ball said. “Although at times it was very challenging with Ian constantly correcting and improving my technique, it paid off with that trip to the conference final. I was so proud of our team for accomplishing so much.” A horrific knee injury forced Ball to miss the entire 2007 season, but she returned to play in 30 matches in 2008. Her game evolved into more of a defensive player, earning 260 digs, but her leadership on and off the court is what led the Retrievers back to the America East Tournament. Ball earned 2008 America East All-Academic and CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District Second Team honors. Ball, who graduated with a 3.8 GPA, was a member of the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa honor society and was awarded the Outstanding Secondary Education Student award during UMBC’s Student Recognition Week. “She led by example both academically and athletically,” Blanchard said. “She has set the standard very high in both areas and I couldn’t be more proud of her.” Ball leaves UMBC ranking ninth all-time with 921 digs and 138 assisted blocks and 10th with 2,518 attacks, but Blanchard believes she will be remembered for something more. “She was my first recruit after I was hired in 2005 and that’s when this program started to flourish,” the coach said. “She took a chance when not that many would, and she enabled me to recruit better because younger players would see the quality player and leader she is. Better players and better people want to come here because of Sarah Ball, and that’s the legacy she’ll leave at UMBC.” “I had a great experience playing here at UMBC,” Ball said. “UMBC gave me the opportunity that led to my job and Ian and my teammates were very supportive of my decision. I thank them very much for everything.”